Curtsey Squat
Tone your legs and glutes with the curtsey squat! A great lower-body exercise you can do anywhere.
The Curtsey Squat is a compound exercise that mainly works the quads and glutes & hips, with help from the hamstrings and core. No equipment needed: it uses just your bodyweight.
Curtsey Squat Muscles Worked
Primary
Quads (quadriceps femoris); Glutes (gluteus maximus)
Secondary
Hamstrings; Obliques
Curtsey Squat Variations and Alternatives
How to do the Curtsey Squat
Stand with your feet hip-width apart, arms crossed over your chest or hands on hips.
Shift your weight onto your right foot.
Step your left foot diagonally behind you and to the right, bending both knees to lower your body until your right thigh is as close to parallel with the floor as possible. The left knee should come close to touching the ground behind the right foot.
Keep your torso upright and your hips and shoulders as square as possible to the front.
Push through your right heel to stand back up, bringing your left foot back to the starting position.
Repeat the movement on the opposite side, stepping the right leg back this time.
Continue to alternate sides for the desired number of reps and sets.
Ensure that your movements are controlled and that you maintain balance throughout the exercise. You can also add dumbbells held at your sides or a kettlebell held in front of the chest to increase difficulty.
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Curtsey Squat FAQs
What muscles does the Curtsey Squat work?
The Curtsey Squat mainly works the quads and glutes & hips, with help from the hamstrings and core. The main muscles are the quadriceps femoris and gluteus maximus.
What equipment do you need for the Curtsey Squat?
None. The Curtsey Squat is a bodyweight exercise, so you can do it anywhere.
Is the Curtsey Squat a compound exercise?
Yes. It's a compound movement, meaning it trains several muscle groups at once rather than isolating one.
What workout day should the Curtsey Squat go on?
It belongs on leg day in a push/pull/legs routine.
What are some Curtsey Squat variations and alternatives?
Similar exercises include the 4-Corner Curtsy, Arm Cross-Over Curtsy, Barbell Curtsey Lunge and Clap Curtsey Squat.
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